Evidence supported that stance Wednesday when Flyers forward Brayden Schenn was suspended for one game by the NHL because of an illegal hit on the Devils' Anton Volchenkov.

Brendan Shanahan, the NHL's dean of discipline, said Schenn delivered "significant contact to the head" during the Flyers' 3-0 loss in New Jersey on Tuesday.

In another matter, GM Paul Holmgren announced that left winger Scott Hartnell would be out indefinitey because of an injury to his left foot. Hartnell was hit by a shot taken by teammate Kimmo Timonen on Tuesday.

As for Schenn, he took a slight leap before crashing into Volchenkov in the second period. No penalty was called on the play.

I understand that the NHL is trying to protect players from concussions.

But I don't understand how this hit constituted a suspension.

Should a charging penalty have been called?

Absolutely.

But the NHL has gone too far and is taking physicality out of the game.

Fred Shero, rest his soul, is probably rolling over in his grave.

Volchenkov, you might recall, drilled Schenn with a clean hit in last year’s playoffs. Schenn said his hit Tuesday was “not a revenge play at all. He had his head down and me coming off the bench and seeing that.”

Schenn, who will forfeit about $4,700 in pay for the game he misses, said he was surprised that the hit drew a disciplinary hearing from the league.

Holmgren said the Flyers would not appeal the suspension.

Without Hartnell and Schenn, the Flyers might play Tom Sestito and Jody Shelley on Thursday. If the Flyers recall a player from the AHL Phantoms, Harry Zolnierczyk, Jason Akeson and Marcel Noebels appear to be the top candidates.